Changing Tides {EVA and WULF}

[Wulfgar Fenrisulfr]

EVA


Wulf's words echoed in her ears as she sat on the cold beach, watching the waves roll in front of her. They had been so kind, so gentle...so exactly what she'd needed to hear, that it had taken all of her will power not to start blubbering right on the spot. Again. She had to chuckle at the thought; she'd been doing a lot of the water works lately. The poor wolves must think the demon-lady mad.

Hugging her knees to her chest, Eva sighed in contentment and listened to the ocean. After the others had left, she'd allowed herself to be lifted to her feet by the strong shifter, awed at the feeling of warmth that rushed through her at his touch. After feeling nothing but fear and dread for the past three centuries, it was a revelation to realize that she was capable of feeling anything else. She'd wanted to stand on her tip toes and kiss the old man senseless, just as he had in the kitchen.


Oh, the memory was enough to make her toes curl into the sand and her cheeks flush. What was it about the shifter that made her so darn...confused? She'd never felt this kind of attraction toward anyone; not once in her long, interesting life. The mere strength of it had sent her running to her room and locking the door securely behind her, once she regained her balance and realized what her brain was willing her to do. Just one kiss, just one moment of actual feeling...she wanted it so badly. But she was terrified of it, as well.

Wulf:

It was funny how things could change in the blink of a eye. Standing at his upstairs office window, Wulf gazed down upon the beach and watched the slender figure below. His head was a mass of confusion with all the changes going on but he knew he wouldn't have changed his course even had he total clarity. He was a man used to warfare and battle plans and this was yet another fight to be won. Only the stakes were different. This time, he had a feeling that the stakes were his heart and happiness.

And he didn't like it one little bit.


Never before had Wulf felt so uncertain. Oh, he knew what he wanted but this was not a game he could win by fierce might nor by superior strength. In this game, he was at a disadvantage because his emotions had never before been engaged. Although he'd never admit it to anyone, it terrified him as much as it excellerated him. Eva deserved someone much gentler.. Much kinder than he and for the first time.. The mighty wolf king wondered if he had the ability to be that man. What did he know of romance? Of seduction? He was used to taking his ease with any number of willing women and even that had grown old many centuries ago. Not that he was a celibate man but... sex for merely entertainment had long since grown cold. It was merely something one did to ease the bodies tension.


Sighing, Wulf lifted a hand and rubbed his stubbly face. After the meeting, he'd retreated to his den and there he'd stayed. In hiding. Like a bloody coward. That was the rut of it. Since making those declarations in front of his clan, the old shifter had felt a shift in the balance of power and the seriousness of his claims had set in. He'd needed time to consider all angles and make sure he was doing what was best for all and not just him. Ty's words had rang true and given him food for thought but even after time thinking... Wulf knew he was making the right choice. The only choice. His path was set and he would follow through with it but as king of the shifters and head of the ruling council... He had to think on it.

and then he'd caught sight of the cause of all his upheavel on the beach. A brave, gentle woman who did not deserve the violence she had been surrounded by but who'd found a way to live through it. She might not think she was much but.. she was everything he admired. She was the one he'd been waiting for for over a thousand years.

Unable to keep himself from her any longer, Wulf called on his ancient magic and shimmered out of existance. When he reappeared, it was to lean on a rock not far from the woman. For a moment, he simply stood there and observed her. When he spoke, it was in a calm, husky tone that reverberated with his ancient Gaelic accent. "A penny for your thoughts, lass..."

EVA

Call it exhaustion, intuition or the just plain lack of reaction on her part at that moment, but when Wulf appeared, she didn't feel at all surprised. Nervous, maybe...hot and tingly all over, definitely. But, where she would have jumped and shied away from the faceless voice that suddenly sounded beside her, she instead leaned back casually and looked over at him. She surprised herself; knowing the usual ease that she slid into being startled. Hell, even the Santa Claus looking cook back at the diner, whom she KNEW wouldn't hurt a fly, managed to scare the crap out of her multiple times! Wulf's large body, powerful aura, commanding presence; all of that, coupled with the surprise visit, should have sent her careening into the waves for 'safety.'

And yet, she didn't do any of that. Just...gave into the sudden urge to smile at him and pat the sand next to her in an invitation to sit down. This was strange. Very, very strange.

For the length of time it took her 'protector' to join her on the beach, Eva had thought about the events leading up to their meeting, the reactions of the others in the living room. She was still shocked that they had agreed to shelter and help her; her, a stranger to them and, according to the bald man, a danger as well. They had Old World auras about them, sure, which made it a bit easier to understand- Damsel in Distress Syndrome, she liked to call it- but still...she didn't know how to react.

Should she thank them? But how? Notes? Gifts? Become their personal chef? She didn't know how to process such generosity; in the multiple times she'd managed to live on the surface world, she'd learned that people were inherently selfish. Good, yes, but it was in their nature to look after themselves first and foremost. It was obvious by the state of the Clan that they were very close, and their survival depended on living a relatively quiet life. Her mere presence threatened everything they had, including their lives.

And still, they agreed to stand beside their leader, at her side. She just...gah, she had to do some serious shopping, because these people were going to be showered with sugary treats.

A soft smile still tugging at her lips, she gave him one last look before turning to gaze out at the ocean again. "I was just thinking that...it's been a very long time since I've seen the ocean. If I sit here long enough, I can almost make believe that I'm home, sneaking away from the main temple to watch the jellyfish light up the water."

Wulf:

The predator within Wulf sensed the change in the woman's demeanor. Where before there had been a tinge of unease, of a prey's uncertainty in the face of a hunter, there was now something different. Something that beckoned to the beast and made it want to lay at her feet and rest. No longer did the trace of fear electrify the air around them but a strange sense of acceptance seemed to have taken up residence. It almost.. soothed him.

As her words rang between them, Wulf too found himself looking out over the water. Moving forward, he dropped down beside her even as he wondered what he was doing. "I'm glad it pleases you.... I, too, miss the ocean... Only where I grew up, we didn't have such things as jelly fish. The coast of Scotland is a primitive place and the gods and goddesses use it as a play ground for their furies. Even in the calmest of tides, it crashes upon the rocks with savage beauty."


Picking up a stone, the ancient shifter brought back his arm and let it sail as far out as possible. Watching it skip along the water, he smiled and seemed lost in memories. "My siblings and I used to go down to the coast and cast peddles.Often times, my sisters mate was with us and we carried the other two on our backs down the steep cliffs. Banning and I had wars to see who could toss the farthest but he was constantly distracted even then by Kaera..." he mused, smiling to himself as he remembered the times. "Everyone knew those two were destined for each other. From the time my sister could move around on her own, she toddled after Banning as if he'd hung the moon and stars. We all used to give him static but he never seemed to mind. In truth, I suspect we were all more green with envy than anything. It was obvious to all that the mating was set by the gods and neither one had eyes for any other. In fact, my father and Bannings betrothed the pair as soon as it became obvious that Kaera had a mind of her own and would have no other as her life mate."


Weighing another stone in his hand, the wolf frowned and shook his head ruefully. "After the attack on our village.... My sister was inconsolable.... The death of her mate and her unborn child was almost to much for her. One night, I went ot check on her and found her room empty. It was only by gut instinct that I followed the path she'd taken away from the village and found her on the cliff side, preparing to cast herself into the waves. It was then that I realized that we could not stay in our homeland..... There were to many memories there and instinct told me that if we did not leave that haunted place... I would soon be burying my sister too."

Glancing upwards, and not really knowing why he was sharing all this, Wulf gaze across the water. "Since then, I've never been able to look upon water the same...."

[Wulfgar Fenrisulfr]

Eva:

For a minute there, Eva could only bask in the warmth that practically floated off of the shifter's body. He was like a walking heat blanket, she thought with a little smile. She had to actually resist the urge to scooch over closer to him; yet another sign of the strange sense of ease she felt around him. She had every reason to feel a bit nervous when around strong, powerful men. Heck, she usually was. But not around Wulf...not anymore. She had to wonder if a part of herself had latched onto the closest hero that she could find.

Well, that wouldn't do.

A smile pulled at her lips as she listened to the low rumble of his voice. It was so soothing; that accent of his. Speaking of the old days as he was...was he older than her? He had to be, given the dialect of his speech, she thought absently. She chuckled, then, picturing the beautiful blonde from the living room, following some scraggly adolescent around with a dreamy expression on her young face. She'd had that, once, she remembered. Innocent crushes; childhood Princes. The loving way in which the female had looked at the large man sitting protectively next to her...there was no doubt in her mind that the two were madly in love. A wistful expression slid onto her face for a moment, but she cast away the particular road she was going down, instead focusing on what he was saying.

Such darkness that his family had known...that he had known. Why couldn't the world be a beautiful place? It was unfair; making such a kind man suffer so. Without a thought, she put her hand on his arm in a comforting manner. "I'm sorry. It sounded like your sister was deeply in love. But...she's found love again, yes? With the man from the living room. It's something to rejoice in; the new memories that they're making together, and with you."

Looking up into his face, she had to bite back the urge to trail her fingers along the strong curve of his jaw. Gods, but he was handsome in the dark light. Like...some kind of dark knight, traveling the land. "How about we take a stroll? There'll be no dark memories if we're moving." Practically leaping to her feet, Eva brushed the sand off the back of her dress and offered him her hand, an encouraging smile on her face.

Wulf:

God, how long had it been since he'd spoken of these things with anyone? Decades at least. Centuries possibly. It definitely wasn't something that came up in an average conversation. Hell, no one would have believed him if he had. After all, thousand year old shifters didn't exist in the real world, now did they? At least, not in mortal minds.


As Eva spoke, Wulf drug his gaze from the water to glance at her in surprise. Then, realizing that she didn't know that Banning was the same mate he spoke of, he smiled a bit. "Oh, lass.... You misunderstand. The warrior at my sisters side IS Banning. They loved truly enough that he was returned to her by the gods. In the old lands, there were myths of love so true that it could not be seperated by death... So is true in their case. Bannings spirit never let go of this world because he loved my sister so much that he couldn't bare to be parted from her. After a thousand years of living as a shade, the gods took pity on him and granted him life once more to be with Kaera. Theirs is a story to leave our children...."

Then spying her hand, he arched a brow in surprise but took it as he rose. "You are right..... A stroll would be nice."

As they started off down the beach, he kept her hand in his. "So... What was your life like.. Before the demon came?" he asked, hoping to turn the conversation. "I imagine the world was beautiful and untamed."

[Wulfgar Fenrisulfr]

Eva:

When Wulf informed her that Kaera's past love and current one were all in the same, Eva couldn't help but let loose an almost dreamy sigh. "That's so romantic," She breathed, smiling widely at the thought. Oh, but to find a love such as that! One that could reach across time and the lands of death...it was like something out of a story. Without realizing it, she brought their clasped hands up to her chest and gave his a squeeze, looking out over the sand before them with a dreamy expression on her face. She'd dreamt of that so often as a child, she thought absently. Of finding her Prince, or being scooped up by one of the kinder Gods from her mother's stories. How romantic! How beautiful!

How...awkward! Gah, release his hand, release his hand! Realizing that she was basically staring off into space like a lunatic and hugging his arm, she immediately let their hands drop to her side and ducked her head. "Ah, sorry. I just...erm...spaced out a little, there," She muttered, using the current terms for her 'affliction.' As they headed off down the beach, she couldn't help but glance down at his hand, still curled around hers. How big they seemed, against her own; how calloused and rough. Damn, there were those tingley feelings again.

Her mind turned back to what he'd said, even as a new question surfaced...and even though she wanted to answer, her brain screeched to a halt when they replayed a certain part of his little story; particularly, the part including 'our children.' For a few seconds, her inner voice started screeching out some really impossible what-if's. Thank God for common sense; there was no way he'd meant their children. Hers and Wulf's...no, surely, that wasn't what he'd meant. It must be some idiom that she wasn't familiar with, just yet.

Realizing that she'd remained silent for a good minute after his question, she cleared her throat and shot a glance up at him. "Yes, it certainly was untamed. Wild, free...there were more forests and more open spaces, that was for sure. The city of Aztecl had buildings, but not quite so many as in Hollywood. And it was also...slower. And much more centered on honor and duty." She paused, a wistful smile on her face. "I admit; I miss it and I don't. This day and age provides a lot more freedom for a woman like me."


Wulf:

Romantic? Wulf hadn't really thought of it in that light but he guessed that one could call it that. In all honesty, if he admitted it to himself, he was a bit jealous of the love his sibling and best friend had even as he was happy for the pair. They were such a shining example of what being mated should be like that it was almost hard to watch the looks that pasted between the pair. It was obvious that when they were in the same room together... No one else in the world existed.

Clearing his throat, Wulf rubbed the back of his neck before tugging on her hand and starting off down the beach. He wasn't one for spouting romantic drivel because he'd never HAD to be. Oh, he'd done his fair share of wooing when he was younger but all of that had lost its flare after a few centuries. It had literally been decades since he'd felt moved to such gentle words and he now felt the loss deeply.

He had no idea how to say what he felt inside and he'd never been good at speaking his inner most feelings with anyone.. Even his siblings. THEY simply knew how he felt and there was no need for pretty words or fancy speech.

With Eva though.... It was different. He definitely got the impression that things like that would be the way to her heart and for the first time in years... The ancient shifter felt himself on unfamiliar ground. And he HATED that feeling
Wulf: Thankfully though, Eva began to talk again and her subject matter was one he could handle.
Wulf: "My sister says much the same thing. We all miss the old days but she is far happier in this day in age when she can be as smart as she like. She handles our business issues far better than my brothers or I could so we are quite happy to let her." he said with a rueful smile. "As far as a woman like you.... I'm sure you can do anything you set your mind too. You strike me as a capable lass."

Keeping her hand in his, he gave her a searching look before asking his next question.

"If we manage to free you from this demon lord... What is it that you want to do with your life? Do you have something in mind or are you just going with the flow? Forgive me if I'm wrong but it seems to me that you should have a bunch of little ones hanging on your legs. There are just some women who radiate maternal instincts and you seem like one of those...."


Eva:

Eva couldn't help but flush at the compliment, feeling a warmth spread into her chest. She had no idea why, but the thought that such a powerful, capable man thought her on the same level as his own sister was the compliment to end all compliments. She'd fought so hard to keep sense of self intact, that she sometimes forgot that some women didn't get the chance to accumulate it. Ducking her head, she hid a proud smile and walked a bit taller.

But then the conversation turned to a forbidden topic, and she faltered. Just it always did, the thoughts of smiling children clinging to her hands and calling her mama made her chest ache. Especially when those normally faceless images now had blonde hair and blue eyes. Not stalker-ish at all...

"I can't have children," She found herself replying, surprised at the calmness of her voice. She had no idea why she was telling him that, but the words just seemed to pop out of her mouth. It was as if she could tell the ancient shifter anything. "In the first few years with Sagan...I did carry his child. I was terrified of how it would turn out; how my husband would force it to become like him. That was the first time I ran to this world. It didn't take him very long to find me and the punishment...I lost the baby. The doctors told me that I would never be able to get pregnant again."

Okay, so that was definitely more than the poor man needed to know, and she immediately dropped his hand, curling her arms around herself. Yes, Eva, she mentally berated herself; go ahead and tell him every single sob story you have! That'll make him keep respecting you! Gluing her eyes to the sand beneath their feet, she felt herself flush again, this time in mortification.
Eva: "I'm sorry. I don't...I don't know why I told you that. It's the ocean air...the salt must be some kind of truth-telling spell about it."


Wulf:

Son of a bitch. Didn't he just feel like the jackass of the moment?

As he listened to her speak, Wulf felt himself stiffen and he mentally kicked himself for speaking without thought. There was no way he could have known that her captivity had lead to such a thing but he still felt like a real hell for bringing it up. It had been a long time since he'd felt like such a gauche fool and it made his tone a bit sharper than he intended when he finally spoke.

"Ah, Lass... Do not be sorry. None of this is your fault and I'm a bastard for bringing up a subject that obviously hurts you. I'm glad you told me but do not give up hope yet. Modern medicine works miracles and just because you can not have children of your own.. That doesnt not mean you can not be a mother." he said in a clipped tone, unfamiliar with the desire to comfort her. "There are children of all sorts in the world in need of a mothers love ....."

Good lord... Why didn't he just shut up? He was no doubt making things worse as he bumbled along. Unfortunately, he could seem to stop the flow for once. "Have you seen a doctor recently? I know of one who is familiar with supernaturals.. She might be able to offer you some other options."

SHUT UP, FENRISULFR! he mentally shouted at himself. Just Shut the Hell UP!

"Not that it matters to me, of course." he continued, before wanting to slam his head into the nearest boulder as he bumbled it all again. "I mean.. It matters but not ... What I mean is I can tell it hurts you and I would offer you some sort of assistance."


Eva:

If she wasn't on the verge of knocking herself against the nearest solid object, Eva would have laughed at the way the big, powerful shifter stammered out his reply. She was touched by the sincerity in his voice, and the obvious fact that he wanted to help her. Okay, it was a little awkward; talking to someone who was practically a stranger, about the health of her uterus...but it was cute, at the same time.

She hadn't had someone care about her like that in a very long time. Not since...her family, she thought with a little jolt. And here was Mr. Big, Brave and Flustered, doing his best to make her feel better about one of the few subjects that made her want to curl up in a corner and never come out. Grateful and touched, she let her arms drop back to her sides and shyly curled her fingers around his, recapturing his hand.

"Thank you, Wulf," She said softly, tugging him to a halt. Turning to face him, she looked up into his face with a mixture of old sadness and...something else, that not even she could place. "I feel like I keep saying that to you. Keep on going down this Perfect road, and I'm going to have to bottle you up and keep you with me."

Before she could stop herself, she used his hand for balance and stood up on her toes, placing a kiss on his cheek. She was about to pull away, to start walking again...but her eyes managed to snag themselves on his lips and she was mesmerized. It was a tad uncomfortable to remain on her toes so that she was level with him, but with her free hand on his chest...oh, this was a bad idea, but stopping herself just wasn't in the cards.

"I feel like I want to kiss you...like you kissed me in the kitchen," She murmured, eyes flickering up to look into his. "But...I'm not sure if it's entirely appropriate..."


Wulf:

By the gods. The woman was going to be the death of him. Forget going out in a blaze of glory on some battlefield. She was going to do him in with the touch of her hand upon his heart. For an instant, it was as if he'd forgotten how to breath as she moved in closer and then meet his gaze. Her words succeeded in sending his pulse racing like the wind. God, how was it he'd lived all these centuries but never felt a feeling like this?

"Lass..." he growled out, voice laden ed with a heavy Gaelic accent that only came out when he was struggling with some intense emotion. "You have no need to thank me nor do I wish you too. Tis the duty of any honorable man to see to a woman's honor and happiness."

Reaching up with one hand, he gently tucked a lock of chocolate behind her ear before wrapping a strong arm about her waste. Pulling her close, his gaze fell to her lips even as his glacial eyes started to glow with desire.When he spoke again, it was with a thick haze of heat. "Nothing between us is improper, lass.... Haven't you figured that out yet? You are my mate.. My other half of my soul... Screw your demon lord... You were never meant to be his and if he wants a fight, I will give him one... I shall not press for more than you can give but I've never felt these feelings you inspire in me before. No other woman have I wanted to comfort and bed all at the same time. I'm not a man of pretty words but i promise to always tell you whats on my heart."

Struggling to find his own words, Wulf bent to kiss her lips gently before resting his forehead against hers. "I can not promise to always be the gentle man you deserve but I can promise to give you all thats in my heart and soul. I'm a man accustomed to battle and harsh conditions but I will never raise a hand to you. This I so swear."


Eva:

God, but he had beautiful eyes. She sank into his front when he wrapped his arms around her, shivering from nervousness and want. She'd never felt like this around anyone; not even when she was free to do as she pleased. Why couldn't she have run into him, all those years ago? Why couldn't he have visited her land and captured her eye, so she'd never have tried to leave him for a Demon? Sliding her arms around his neck, she reveled in the heat of him.

"You misunderstand," She said softly, her eyes closing briefly as he tucked a loose curl behind her ear. "This...this isn't to thank you. I mean, I am thankful for your agreeing to help me, but...I want you. Unlike I've ever wanted anything else in my entire life." The truthful words left an embarassed stain across her cheeks. If she could have broken that hypnotizing gaze, she would have. Good Gods...brazen hussy, anyone?

She fell silent when he spoke again and her mind immediately snapped back to the present as his words sank in. Wait, hold the phone...his mate? The sudden feeling of being claimed made her flinch, though she didn't attempt to pull away from him. Sagan had also made that claim; declaring that she was his love, his soul mate. He'd taken her from her family, forced himself on her, into her life...he'd hurt her so badly, that she wanted to escape; to become her own person. She was no one's property, no one's 'great love.'

And yet, when Wulf said those feared words...she felt tense and anxious, yes, but for an entirely different reason. Instead of fearing his declaration as yet another claiming, she couldn't help but wonder...was she good enough for him? A sullied, runaway Queen who was already married to another. Gods, did he have low standards, or what? Closing her eyes with a slow intake of breath, she let herself rest against him, returning his kiss. It wasn't as heated as before, and when she felt his forehead thunk against her own, she opened her eyes again.

"I know you wouldn't. That's why I feel so safe around you...why I came to you in the first place. You're a good man, Wulf Fenrisulfr. I can see it in your eyes, hear it in your voice...you deserve much better than me," Taking another deep, shaking breath, she closed her eyes again, not able to keep looking into those light, beguiling eyes. "But I fear I can't stop myself from feeling the same way; connected to you, somehow. Gods...what are we going to do?"


Wulf:

When she didn't pull away, Wulf held her tighter and revealed in the gift the gods had bestowed on him. Although small, Eva was a woman in all the ways that mattered and holding her made him feel like he could take on the world just to keep her there. After a thousand years of being alone even in a clan full of tight knitted family members, this woman made him feel complete in ways he'd only ever dreamed of. As he'd told her before, he wasn't a man of soft words but she was a woman worthy of them.
Wulf joined the chat 5 days ago

"I'll tell you what we are not going to do.. We are not going to make this anymore complicated than it already is. The fates brought us together for a reason and we have to trust that they know whats best." he returned, feeling a bit like an idiot for spouting such words but feeling they were true. "I haven't lived so long without realizing that things happening for a reason even if we can't see it at the time. Maybe... Maybe everything we've experienced has lead us to this moment so that we might truly appreciate the blessings of the gods. I don't know.. but I do know that I have been only half alive until I met you. And I won't let you go. I'll gladly give my life to see you safe and this I give my word on."

Wondering if this was how Erik and Banning had felt when they'd met their women, Wulf couldn't help but leaning in to steel another kiss. As his firm lips met her soft one, he was aware of a spark of desire that was foreign to his understanding but all encompassing. It made him press her closer even as his mouth devoured hers hungrily. When he was finally able to pull himself away in the fear of scaring her, he breathed heavily and it was all he could do not to toss her over his shoulder and "Take" her in a manner reminiscent of his ancestors. When he took her, she'd stay "Kept" because when a warrior of their clan took a woman.. It was forever.

Damn, he really was still a Highland barbarian.

"Lass.... I think we should retire back to my chambers...."

[Eva Rombar]

Eva:

The Fates...could she believe him? Could she trust the feelings coursing through her; the seemingly uncontrollable desire and the need to trust? She didn't know him, didn't know if he would be so honorable after she'd given him what he wanted. Immediately after the thought passed through her brain, something inside her rolled its eyes and she sighed and closed her eyes briefly. No...she knew that he was nothing like Saegan, both in action and intent.

She wasn't about to get out of this so easily. The feelings that he evoked in her and the knee-jerk comfort that she felt when she was near him...it was exactly what he was saying. Call it fate, kismet, destiny; something was telling her that they did indeed belong together.

For the moment, that is.

With a small sound of pleasure, she leaned into him and returned his kiss. God, he tasted like fire and something spicey. How was she going to live when she returned to her husband's realm? With a little growl of her own, she shoved the thoughts away and focused on the man in front of her. She wrapped her arms around him, as if keeping herself grounded and opened herself to him. She refused to let those dark thoughts, those fears, destroy this moment...the only true moment of complete contentment she'd had in a very long time.

"I think I'd like that," She returned breathlessly. Her eyes were locked on his lips as she slowly eased herself down to the ground. She'd been unaware that she'd been attempting to climb his larger body like some kind of insane monkey and blushed. Swallowing, she pulled back and caught his hand, heading toward the mansion. When they got to the double doors leading inside, she paused and looked up at the shifter. Fear, anticipation and desire warred inside of her, but when her eyes landed on his, all of the trepidation she felt just melted away. Feeling a sense of rightness she'd never experienced before, she followed him into the house and toward his chambers.



Wulf:

God, the woman was so beautiful that it tore at his heart. How something so precious could have been so cruelly treated, he did not know but every instinct in him wanted to love and cherish her. To protect her with everything he had and everything he was. Was this what Banning experienced every time he looked at Kaera? Was this what Eric felt when he held Misery? It was more than he'd ever dreamed yet... peaceful. Natural. As if his world were suddenly complete and she was the final, important piece of the puzzle

When she took his hand and lead him towards the house, it was all he could do not to fall to his knees in prayers of thanks for hte gods. He was not a religious man but to be given such a gift... Well, a man had to express proper appreciation right? On other consideration though, he decided his strength would be better applied to showing his woman his appreciation and as soon as the doors closed behind them... He went about doing just that. With unhurried dedication and unwavering stanima, the ancient king of the wolves worshiped his love in the only way he knew how until they were both sated upon his silken sheets and darkness had long since fallen.